Iwata was our first stop, where we indulged ourselves in shopping for hakamas, belts and dogis. We trained at Yasuo Kobayashi Sensei's dojo in the evening, and then rose early the next morning to attend Doshu's class. We watched in awe at Doshu's effortless, firm and graceful techniques. This was followed by Hayato Osawa Sensei's class, followed by sightseeing in Asakusa in the afternoon and more training at Nakano Dojo under Kenji Koyama Sensei in the evening.

Our Singapore group with the Assistant Driector of International Affairs of Hombu Dojo, M. Tani Sensei

The next morning, we rose again for Doshu's and Yoshiaki Yokota Sensei's class. Having completely spent our energy, we took a leisurely stroll around Tokyo's various tourist attractions for the rest of the day. We were all so bruised, mat-burnt and aching from all that vigorous training that we were walking funny but nothing could dampen our spirits and excitement.

On the weekend, the group made its way up the mountain to the Ose Iwakura Ski Resort to attend Tada Shihan's seminar. We arrived at Misawa Hotel and immediately commenced training. As this was a weekend seminar, 16 hrs of training had to be packed through the entire weekend and we paused only for breakfast and lunch. Despite the busy schedule and the accompanying cold temperature, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

With Sensei at Iwakura Ski Resort before the seminar.

During the training, we broke bamboo sticks supported by cups filled with water with our bokken, practised intuition by guiding each other around the dojo (in pairs) by willing the direction in which we wanted our partner to walk and hammered away at a wooden block balanced on a small side table with a huge flat bokken.

Tada Shihan demonstrated various techniques and explained common mistakes. Above all else, we learnt endurance, patience and humility (being taught and corrected in a language we did not understand) and the spirit of martial art. We also encouraged each other against conveniently sleeping in every morning and the temptation to take afternoon breaks.

A team of 8 delegates with Hiroshi Tada Shinhan & Hironobu Yamada Shihan at the annual semiar at Iwakura Ski Resort

After the seminar, we were taken care of by Hironobu Yamada Sensei of Hokuso Aikikai (Narita) to a hot spring at Mount Fuji, some training in Narita and a trip to the Disney Sea World.

At the end of the trip, we were sad to leave the training ground and our new found friends but we parted with the hope and excitement of meeting again at Aikido Shinju-kai's 15th Anniversary celebration in February 2003.

By Audrey Yeo, Bishan Dojo